Weather continues to impact haying operations

Jul 14, 2022

Farmers are busy scouting crops, applying fungicides and trying to cut this years hay crop.

Saskatchewan's Weekly Crop Report shows livestock producers now have 16 per cent of the hay crop cut while eight per cent has been baled or put into silage.

Provincially, hay quality is rated as 19 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 17 per cent fair and two per cent poor.

The warmer temperatures and recent rainfall has helped move crops forward.

Provincial Cereal Specialist Sara Tetland says the majority of crops are in fair to good condition.

"Provincially, 64 per cent of the fall cereals, 58 per cent of the spring cereals, 51 per cent of the oilseed crops and 72 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year."

In the Southeast many of the crops are behind their normal development stage and producers are hoping for warm, dry weather to help crop development and allow for hay operations to resume.

In the Southwest dry conditions continue to affect crop, hay and pasture growth in the region. Some areas received timely rainfall which have helped with crop development, but the continued dry conditions have caused some crops to prematurely ripen and has impacted yield potential.

In the West-Central region localized rains have helped but the region is still very dry and more rain is needed for crop, hay and pasture growth.

In the East-Central region warmer weather this past week has helped crops to progress, however, much of the crop is behind their normal stage of development.

In the Northeast moisture conditions vary throughout the region with adequate moisture available in many areas. Cool conditions earlier in the growing season delayed haying and crop development but the recent hot weather is helping some crops progress.

In the Northwest most of the crops in the region are at their normal stage of development and rated as in fair to excellent condition.

Sporadic shower or thunderstorm activity has been reported across much of the province over the last few weeks.

Tetland says moisture conditions vary from area to area and while recent rain has helped, more is needed to combat the wind and heat.

"Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and four per cent very poor. Hay and pasture land is rated as five per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and five per cent very short."

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